Night Ariane 5 Mission Orbits Four Spacecraft

Feb 13, 2009



Four spacecraft -- two civilian communications birds and two military microsats -- are in checkout today after the first Ariane 5 mission of the year Feb. 12.

Liftoff of the Ariane 5 ECA from the European launch site near Kourou, French Guiana, came when the launch window opened at 5:09 p.m. EST. It was 7:09 p.m. local time, and the big rocket was clearly visible well into its ascent in the night sky.

On board were the SES New Skies NSS-9, Eutelsat's Hot Bird 10 and the twin French Spirale optical early warning microsatellites (Aerospace DAILY, Feb. 11).

Overall the payload weighed 8,511 kilograms (18,760 pounds), including integration hardware and the "SYLDA" multi-payload dispenser system. All four satellites deployed nominally over the 33 minutes after liftoff.

The New Skies NSS-9 weighed 2,230 kilograms (4,920 pounds) at launch. Built by Orbital Sciences Corp., it is bound for 183 deg. E. Long. with its 44 active C-band transponders for service over the Pacific region.

The 4,880-kilogram (10,760-pound) Hot Bird 10 will serve customers from Eutelsat's video "neighborhood" at 13 deg. E. Long. with 64 active Ku-band transponders. It was built by EADS Astrium.

Weighing 120 kilograms (240 pounds) each, the two Spirale spacecraft were built by Alcatel Space for EADS Astrium, which had the prime contract with France's defense ministry.

Ariane 5 photo: ESA